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Work in Progress

I’ve been totally absorbed in this painting lately, and it’s really close to being finished. I think there are at least six layers to it, but it’s gone through so many transformations that I’m not sure. This new creative process is teaching me a LOT.

This painting had a pretty good beginning and then went through an “awkward teenager” phase for a while. At one point it got super detailed and a little too busy, and then I got stuck. My intuition told me to put it aside for a bit, and I moved it to different places in my studio and worked on other things… but it didn’t feel done. The trouble was, I was kind of attached to some of the things I liked about it. There were some vibrant color combinations and patterns I was happy with. I was afraid of going forward because I might mess it up. Sometimes I feel like this in life too : )

The same painting after the first two layers. Acrylic on canvas by Jennifer Currie

As it turns out, putting it aside and giving it a rest was the best thing {more and more I’m realizing that when I get stuck it’s often because I’m over-thinking, overly attached, and afraid of making a mistake… also I’m pushing myself too hard to have the answer immediately}.

“Awkward Teenager” phase. Acrylic on canvas by Jennifer Currie

One day I looked at the painting and saw a bird shape. I had seen the bird shape before, but I was resisting it for some reason. It felt like too big of a change… like the whole painting was going to be going in a different direction. It felt scary to alter it so drastically, but I’m glad I did… AND I’m glad I waited until I was ready to do it. Like I said, this painting isn’t 100% finished, but it has taught me so much.

Right before I made the big changes. You can kind of see that bird shape I was talking about. Acrylic on canvas by Jennifer Currie